Miki held in a giggle as Silver sighed, obviously trying very hard not to react to Gabriel's comment. But Miki saw her ease her foot over toward Gabriel until it came in contact with his shirt.
"Hey!" Miki said, spinning to search the living room for Cage. "What if I had Ryder cut MY hair???"
Cage gasps, jumping up so hes standing on the couch. “WHAT YES.”
Ryder follows Ben to the other side of the room, a bit surprised he agreed.
“Here.” He gently takes a rather large, rugged sword from a case, unsheathing it and handing it to him. “Careful. It’s awkward and a little hard to… hold steady.”
Ryder takes it, “wow thanks! You sure you do- wait-“
Ben turns him around. “Come come, lets go cut his hair.”
Miki jumped off her barstool and joined him on the couch, jumping up and down. "I'll look so awful!" she cried. "Can you imagine my weirdo red hair but like… sword chopped???"
Silver snorted. "Sword chopped is not a style, Miki."
"It is now!"
“He does my hair good.” Gabriel whispers.
Cage giggles and ruffles Miki’s hair with both hands.
Ryder returns from the hallway, sword in the air. “HUZZAH.”
Violets eyes widen. “Oh my!”
"What!" Silver yelped, bolting up and staring in horror at the giant sword in Ryder's hands. "Ben, the ONE TIME I wanted you to NOT approve of the stupid idea! I thought you'd say no! Why didn't you say no?!?" She scrambled over to Gabriel and wrapped her arms around him, glaring at Ryder. "Don't you even come near him with that murder weapon."
"Oh my WORD." Miki launched herself off the couch and raced up to Ryder, staring in awe at him and the sword. "I don't know which I'm more impressed over; the fact that you got Ben to give you one of his swords or that you got him to let you borrow one that's this. cool."
Ryder pays not attention to Sil and instead shows off the sword to Miki. “It’s sharp edges are perfect for cutting hair, hAHA.”
Ben walks past Ryder, to come stand by Gabriel and Silver. “I’m sure Gabriel would object if he didn’t want it, hm?”
Silver glared at Ben. "Get. Away. You know perfectly well that Gabriel doesn't know or care what hurts him, half the time." she squinted at him suddenly, studying him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you. The prospect of Ryder cutting Gabriel's hair with a freaking battleaxe."
"Can you do mine next???" Miki asked.
Ryder enthusiastically nods. “It’d be my pleasure, kid.”
Ben smirks. “I’ll get a kick out of it, yes. Does that bother you? He says he’s done it before.”
“DANG RIGHT IVE DONE IT BEFORE.” He calls, sword still in the air. “Alright, alright, move out of the way. Vamp, you ready?”
Silver reluctantly released Gabriel and backed away, mostly for fear that if she didn't Ryder would just cut Gabriel's hair anyway, even if she was in the way. She dug her hands into her hair and her face contorted, like she was going to cry. "Please be careful." she whispered, begging. "Please just be careful. Don't hurt him."
Miki raced to get a good place right beside Gabriel so she wouldn't miss any of it. "Okay, okay, I have to get picture. Where's my–DANG IT, MANGO, my phone is still at Dio's. Silver, give me yours." she snatched Silver's phone out of her back pocket without waiting for Silver to give it to her. As soon as she unlocked the screen, her eyes went wide and she started laughing. "Oh my word, Dio's been spamming you for like an hour, Silver. He says… he wants to make sure we haven't killed Ryder, and Ryder hasn't killed us." she snapped a picture of Ryder standing beside Gabriel, sword at the ready. "I'm gonna send him a picture of this."
"Maybe he'll come and save of us from this insanity." Silver whispered.
Ryder giggle/snorts at the girls and Gabriel sits up and leans his head as far back as he can, his hair a good bit past his shoulders with his head in this position.
Kissa pulls herself up on the island to watch and cage covers his eyes.
Violet takes Ben’s hand. “Are you sure he’s not going to behead him?”
Ben shrugs. “I’m not sure.”
His hair is so gorgeous and Ryder's just gonna murder it, Silver thought. "Please watch his ears." She said to Ryder.
Lackey, invisible, slipped in the backdoor which had remained unlocked, and circled around them all, reaching the front door and opening it to reveal a very stressed and frustated Dio. He stepped inside and his jaw dropped as he took in the scene of everyone gathered around Gabriel and Ryder.
"당신은 뭐 해요?" he yelled.
Ryder pauses, looking to the door and smiling. “Eyyyyy!” He waves his sword.
Cage bounces up. “ 머리를 자르다!”
Ben raises an eyebrow at Dio, a grin surprisingly on his face. “This yours?”
"제길, yes, he's 'mine'!" Dio retorted, stepping into the kitchen. "What the hell are you doing, Ryder??"
"He's cutting Gabriel's hair!" Silver wailed, flinging herself off the counter and into his arms. "Everyone else thinks it's funny but it's dangerous and scary!"
Dio held her, patting her head while he glared at Ryder. "You certainly know how to make an impression, don't you? I'm so sorry, Benjamin. I'll take him away right now."
"What are you waiting for?" Miki hissed at Ryder. "Hurry up!"
Ryder hurriedly yanks Gabe’s head back into place and slices a good bit of his hair off, then hugs Gabriel’s head. “HES GONNA GET ME.”
Gabriel coughs, “bre- I need air!” He squeaks.
Cage runs to stand in front of Ryder. “NO! We like him!”
Kissa glares, standing close by.
Touch him, I’ll kill you.
Ben sighs. “Look, we’ll have to make a deal here, Diablo.”
Silver shrieked, burying her face in Dio's shoulder. "Make him stop, make him stop, make him stop." she begged.
Dio pressed his lips together, landing his irate glare on Ben. "A deal, Benjamin? What sort of deal? You'll let me take this rabid idiot away only after he kills your daughter's boy? Why aren't you stopping him?" Dio lifted his hand and a pillar of ice instantly rose from the counter and encased the sword in Ryder's hand, arresting any further cutting.
Miki groaned and threw her head back. "Dang it, Mango, I told you to hurry! Now there are too many adults around for you to finish."
Ben glares, stepping forward.
My sword!
“Diablo, stop.” He demands.
Cage turns to see the ice, eyes wide. “Woooah.” He murmurs in awe.
Ryder lets go from Gabriel and Gabriel stands, backing away from the ice in two quick steps. He turns his head to glare at Dio, quickly putting an arm in front of Ryder.
“He’s not hurting me or anyone else. Leave him be.” He demands, his voice low and scratchy. His eyes turn to Sil, “come here,” he extends his free hand, “he won’t do it anymore.”
Ryder runs a hand through his (own) hair. “Hey, hey. This isn’t life or death.”
Kissa steps closer to Ryder.
No, it’s Ryder or no Ryder which is worse.
Silver glanced between Gabe, Ryder, and Ben, before slowly stepping away from Dio and coming to Gabriel. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "He's so crazy and scary."
Dio slowly retracted the ice, leaving the sword and the counter as dry as before he had entered the house. He took a deep breath, his lips still pressed together in frustration. "I came here expecting to see Miki and Ryder in ashes and instead I find you looking on –in approval, I daresay– as Ryder hacks away at Gabriel's hair. Forgive me for my confusion."
Miki dropped her head onto Cage's shoulder, sighing dramatically. "Worst plot twist ever."
Gabriel takes Sil’s hand with a small, relived sigh. “Don’t worry.” He whispers.
Ben rolls his eyes, relaxing again. “Please, Diablo. They claimed to have done it many times before. Besides, last I checked you weren’t supposed to be in my house, hm?”
Violet puts a hand to her forehead. “Not this again.”
Cage turns to face Ben. “If Ryder is allowed here, can’t Dio be? Pla- LEEEEEEEEESE.”
Silver squeezed Gabriel's hand and wrapped her other arm around his skinny waist. "I don't mind if he cuts your hair if you really want him to just please ask him to not be a crazy maniac while doing it."
Dio planted his short arms on his short waist and took a deep breath, his eyes lighting with nigh on rage. "I came here to retrieve that–" he pointed at Ryder. "Because I assumed –based on multiple previous interactions with you– that the last thing you would want was another crazy Kavi in your house, especially considering he came from my house and brought Miki back." He gave a very low, very mocking bow to Ben. "Forgive me for my confusion, again." He spun on his heel and marched back toward the door.
"No, no, NO, NO!" Miki yelled, dashing away from Cage and flinging herself in front of Dio, blocking the door. "No. No. Ben, if you let Mango Moron stay then you have to let Dio stay sometimes too. Dio won't even live here and you know Mango Dude is totally gonna end up sleeping on the couch. You can't keep him and not Dio. Not fair."
Violet sighs. “For once, I agree. You boys need to grow up and get along please.”
Ben turns to Vi, looking betrayed.
What?
She raises her eyebrows. “I’m sure you heard me right.”
Ryder takes a step to the side.
this is hilarious.
Kissa turns herself and him invisible, just in case the conversation didn’t go in his favor.
Silver started when Ryder disappeared, and turned to glare at where she had seen Kissa last. Miki remained plastered against the front door, staring in shock at Violet. Dio slowly turned around, taking in Violet sitting calmly in the living room. He opened his mouth, but wasn't sure what he could say that wouldn't make things worse. Before he could settle on anything, Lackey slowly lifted his hand and pressed a finger against his lips.
Wait.
“Don’t look so shocked.” Violet muses, taking a sip of her tea. “The kids get along just fine, why shouldn’t you?”
Ben sighs and turns back to Dio. “Did you bring Miki’s stuff? I don’t care if you take her and this,” he goes to motion to Ryder but realizes his no longer there. “Ah, wherever he is.”
“He is not taking Ryder.” Gabriel states, glaring.
"Wait, yeah, did you bring my stuff?" Miki asked. "I kept asking Mango Man to go back and get my pack cuz it's his fault but he refused."
Dio nodded without looking at Miki, slowly coming back into the kitchen. "Yes, it's in the carriage." he said. He sucked on his lips for a moment, studying both Ben and Violet. Gabriel looked like he was ready to pounce on anyone who tried to take Ryder away and… and Ryder wasn't actually visible. Finally Dio swallowed and said, "What if… what if you let the kids visit me whenever they want. That should make everyone happy and it will give you and Violet… a break."
Silver audibly gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth, staring pleadingly at Ben. Please, please, please, please, please say yes. Please say yes. I want to go to Dio's.
“No.” Ben states, without missing a beat. “Absolutely not. Do you know how dangerous it is having them go from one place to another? Besides, you liv-“
“We could be invisible.” Ryder states, still invisible.
Cage gasps. “YES THEY COULD MAKE THE WHOLE CAR INVISIBLE.”
Ben rubs the bridge of him nose. “Yes, because driving a car that absolutely no one else can see is an amazing idea.”
Dio chuckled against his will, shaking his head.
"NO, BUT OKAY." Miki said, flying back into the house with her backpack. "No, no, no. That's the best idea Ryder's had. I can drive, yeah? I'm a normal human, yeah? MAKE EVERYONE ELSE INVISIBLE AND IT'LL LOOK LIKE I'M DRIVING AN EMPTY CAR. Super safe, right?" she glanced between Dio, Ben, and Violet. "Also, did you even see Ryder fighting? If anything happens he'll just murder everyone in like two minutes and we'll be fine. Super safe."
Dio raised his eyebrows at Ben. "This isn't such a bad idea, Benjamin. Since apparently none of us can separate Miki or Ryder from the rest of them, if we can keep them together and they spend time at both our houses, everyone should be happy. Including you and me."
Ben is silent for half a moment, no denying the idea.
“Fine. But they’re not going to your house alone till Violet and I have been there.”
“That’s reasonable.” Violet chimes. “I agree.”
"YUS." Miki cheered, pumping her fist. "Violet agrees, so that means it actually is a good idea."
Silver released Gabriel and planted a kiss on Ben's cheek, then went over to Violet and hugged her, beaming. "I love you so much, thank you, you're the best parents ever."
Dio nodded. "Alright. That works." he stood in his spot, unsure whether this meant he should leave now.
Lackey slowly made his way over to Violet and offered her his ever present bowl of trail mix. "Thank you." he whispered.
Kissa turns herself and Ryder visible again and takes his arm. “So you’re staying?”
He ruffles her hair. “No way you could get rid of me.”
Violet looks at the trail mix, not really knowing how to respond. “Oh, um, thank you?” She says, taking a very small handful.
What on earth?
Im assuming it’s hurtful to refuse.
Ben closes his eyes for half a second.
Im going to regret this.
Cage squeals and squishes Miki. “Yussssssss!”
Silver returned to Gabriel and kissed his cheek too, then ran her fingers through the long side of his hair. "Ryder?" she said cautiously. "Could you… fix this? Without being a crazy weirdo?"
Lackey nodded, satisfied, and perched on the back of the chair nearest Dio, nibbling his trail mix and watching Ryder and Gabriel. Dio nodded again, hands on his hips, still at a complete loss as to what he was supposed to do now.
Miki squeezed Cage back, bouncing up and down. "Hey, hey, Sushi Man." she said suddenly. "Do you want to try our sushi ice cream? Cage and I made it ourselves. It's disgusting."
Ryder raises an eyebrow, looking over Gabe’s hair. “Uh, yes? Wasn’t that what I was just doing?”
Gabriel sighs, “don’t use the sword this time if she doesn’t like it.”
Ryder blinks. “What?”
Cage gasps. “YES WE MADE ICE CREAM.”
Ben rubs his temples, the sheer number of people starting to make him anxious.
He strides over to Violet's side, rubbing her arm as he leans down to whispers that he’s going outside.
She nods and gives him a small kiss on the cheek. “Let me know if you need anything, Love.”